It Isn’t Easy Being Santa Claus
by Jenners • 12/14/2008 • BB/The Little One • 26 Comments
I’m beginning to think we may have oversold the whole Santa thing to the Little One.
Sure, it was great to whip out my little imaginary phone and call Santa to report naughtiness whenever it suited my needs. And it is a powerful tool for staving off the “I want that’s” at stores (“Maybe Santa will bring it for Christmas, honey.”).
But now he is a Believer in the Big Guy. (I swear he thinks The Polar Express movie is a documentary!) And the Big Guy is magic and can do all kinds of amazing things…things that aren’t possible in the real world. The real world where this Santa Claus is doing her best to try and come through for the Little One on Christmas morning against some increasingly difficult odds.
Problem 1: The Little One believes Santa can make any toy that his little head dreams up. After all, Santa’s elves make the toys themselves…they are not limited to what you can buy at a toy store! The Little One has in his head that Santa will be bringing him a working trash truck complete with tiny little cans and actual tiny little trash bags. Such a trash truck does not exist as far as I can tell — or, if it does, this Santa is NOT going to $75 for it!
The Little One also believes Santa will be bringing the remainder of the Kung Fu Panda Happy Meals toys that he doesn’t have already because he wasn’t into Kung Fu Panda when McDonald’s had this promotion! If anyone has Tigress, Viper, Monkey or Kung Fu Panda McDonald’s Happy Meal toys that you want to get rid of, this Santa will be happy to take them off your hands!
Problem 2: The Little One doesn’t see why it is a problem to keep changing his Christmas list. After all, Mommy and Daddy can just call Santa up with their little imaginary phone and keep him updated on the Little One’s ever-changing list. We thought it was nailed down earlier in the month and went out and got the items on the list. Then this week at school they wrote a letter to Santa that will answered by Santa (AKA 7th graders in a nearby school). And I’m sure the response will say “Absolutely I will bring you the Build-A-City playset, school playset and tiny working garbage truck you asked for.” So this Santa is doing a frantic reorganizing of gifts — complete with returns, exchanges, and new purchases with expedited shipping because time is running out. Then yesterday he decides he WILL sit on Santa’s lap and adds in a soft football (what???!!! since when did you want a soft football, Little One!!!???) and Wall-E figurines. He’s killing me!
Problem 3: The Little One has an unreasonable expectation of how many gifts Santa will be able to bring him. Again, because of magic, the Little One believes Santa has no limit on the amount of gifts he can bring the Little One. “How many gifts do you think Santa will bring, honey” we asked him, trembling at the answer. “Oh…about 10 or 15, I think,” said the Little One blithely. “You mean … like 2 big gifts and 8 little gifts — like Matchbox Cars?” we asked, hoping and praying. “Oh no… little gifts go in stockings. I think 10 big gifts will be under the tree,” the Little One replied. Well, on Christmas morning, I suspect the Little One might feel a little let down by the Big Guy as far as quantity … but at least 2 of the 3 big gifts and many little smaller gifts will be waiting. And I’m sure this will be enough…after all, he totally forgot how he wanted a pogo stick … but this Santa didn’t! And it will be waiting for him under the tree on Christmas morning.
I read a great comment over at… oh… I wish I could remember where because they SO deserve credit… Anyway, the person leaving the comment said that they always put balloons on the tree in addition to presents underneath, which made the whole Christmas-morning-experience even bigger and brighter and more magical! It’s a tip I WILL be using one day myself!!!
Thanks for all the good ideas everybody! I was able to find a pretty good Tonka trash truck and I’ll just give him some “snack bags” as the trash bags to use as it comes with a little trash bin! I also scored some cool Kung Fu Panda action figures that are way better than the McDonald’s one! Santa is going to be able to come through this year, but next year I will be able to manage the whole situation better thanks to your help.
Thought it scares me that this seems like it may go on longer than I thought!!!
We are in the midst of the SAME Santa disaster! Initially I felt a little guilty bribing her with Santa, but I figured the majority of US kids grow up this way without too much concern
But it has created problems … major problems, much like you’ve described!
Oh, hon, you have got to take charge of this situation! Get on your magic phone to Santa and have the following conversation in front of your kid:
“Hi Santa, we have another change in the list for you today, is that ok?”
…
“What’s that, Santa? … The elves are on strike? The economy is tough at the North Pole this year, too? Oh, my, so what does that mean for my little wonderful guy? He’s been so good, you know.”
…
“Uh-huh.”
…
“I see.”
…
“Oh, Santa, of course we understand. You’re always so generous and of course I sympathize with your elf situation.”
…
“Yes, I’ll let him know…. Ok, you have a great Christmas too…. I mean, I know you have to work and all, but enjoy your flight, and we’ll definitely leave you some cookies to enjoy while you’re here. …. Ok, then, talk to you soon.”
Then you get off the phone and tell your kid that Santa said there’s a 3-gift limit this year, and it has to be stuff that can be bought at a store for $[insert your price limit here] or less. He’s really sorry, but the elves are on strike and he’s working with a pretty strict budget this year because the economy is so bad all over. Maybe next year it will be 4 or 5 gifts, if he can resolve this whole elf strike situation by then.
Good luck!
And thanks for stopping by my blog. I am enjoying yours, too!
I always cringe when the girls ask for something from Santa that doesn’t match what I bought for them!!!!
well, blog about who can give me discount cards this Christmas cause ur headed for a shopping galore days before the 25th! hihi
)
The toy trash truck with cans and bags is very cute and unusual. Where did he get the inspiration for that one? (You might want to work on it for Christmas 2009… put it into production and sell them on eBay. I smell money here…) Good luck. Maybe a letter to your boy from Santa and sent via snail mail could outline some of Santa’s limitations…” With so many boys and girls all over the world to provide gifts for, I can only take orders until Dec. 1. The elves are already working time-and-a-half; and the reindeer union is threatening to strike Christmas Eve if I load the sleigh up with more than 5 gifts per child.” It’s not easy being Santa.
OH my gosh, you are in a tough spot!
With mine, I make them write out a list to mail, and say that Santa needs at least 10 things, but that he can’t always get them all. Then, as they are sleepy, and easier to convince, I ask them which ones of the list the REALLY want, just in case he doesn’t get everything. He has lots of little kids to make and get things for, you know.
If he’s already written a letter, wait till realy close to Christmas time, and tell him that Santa has changed protocol and the lists need to be emailed. THere are lots of email Santa websites.
wow, thats my kinda Santa. if I believe in him, do you think he will bring me something from Tiffanys? LOL
seriously though, Im sure that in the excitment of the moment on Christmas morning, your Little One will just tear into the presents and be happy. if not, maybe Santa will hit up the after Christmas sales. =)
My son will be 11 two days before Christmas and I’m so ready for him to say he knows the truth about Santa, but so far he’s not confessing. So we’ll go along with the pretending once again. ( I’ve been doing the Santa thing for 24 years now, and I’m ready to retire)
Heather’s M
Oh boy! Sounds like Santa has his work cut out for him this year!
start shopping Ebay hon!!
Oh dear!
I’m going to have to keep that in mind before I am tempted to go “phone” santa!
Oh, it gets better. When I complained that my daughter wasn’t playing with a very expensive doll she just HAD to have, she replied, “Well, Santa brought it, so it’s not like anyone PAID for it!” Grrrr. So the next year I wised up and put my name on all the good gifts and Santa’s name on the ‘extras’… then she wanted to know why Santa was mad at her. Grrrr. This is the first year with no Santa at our house. What a relief!
Hilarious. (I know it’s probably not so funny to you, however.) Ahhhh, the magic of Christmas. Isn’t it wonderful??
too good !!! loved reading this one
That was funny! Up until this year I was the Santa on the other end of the naughty girl line for my niece. I don’t know why my sister and her husband chose me to be Santa, it’s not like I have a deep voice at all, but it sure fooled her!
(The naughty girl line sounds like something completely different from what I meant it to sound like…)
FUNNY post! If you are looking for little Mc.D’s toys try ebay. It might be worth the looking. I should let you go…you have a lot of toys to make, at least 10-15 big ones. Hee Hee….
Jumped over from SITS, feel free to check out my blog and register for the give-a-way. (It ends tomorrow.)
Teehee! Hey, I believe in Santa!
And reindeers and the Nutcracker and pretty ballerinas who dance to The Nutcracker in pretty pink tutus! 
Unicorns are real.
A pogo stick sounds fun! I never could stay up on them though – guess I’m a clutz.
You make me SO happy my kids are all teens and above now.
Oh goodness! That sounds just like the way I was when I was a kid. I just know we’re headed down the same path with our little one because Santa is such a valuable tool…but then he can turn on you so quickly and get used against you!
That is so funny. My kids used to do the same thing to me. Finally I would tell them Santa knows what is best for you and what you really truly want so it’s out of my hands. Thanks for stopping by and giving me a visit.
OMG, I totally feel your pain. My kiddo is older and still believes, wholeheartedly. I have been trying to convince him that even Santa has to deal with the economic crisis, too. I told him there won’t be a plethora of presents under the tree this year and not to be too disappointed.
Not sure that will hold up in court, though.
YIKES after reading this story I am soooo glad my kids are grown lol. I asked my three what they wanted…and they said “please just send a check” YAY no shopping required!
Oh yeah… we are going through the same thing. Our six year old is “testing” Santa this year.
Haha! That is too funny! Who knew Santa could create such a disaster!